“I have heard people say to refocus on the breath when a thought comes up during meditation.
But my issue as a beginner is that I don’t see the thoughts when they appear, I just get distracted right away and then there’s that moment when I go – aha! Ooops, I messed up and got distracted – so then I’ll focus back on the breath.
But the other thing is that when I refocus, I can’t really remember what the thought was most of the time.
Is that normal?
My next question is, I have to do at least an hour just to relax.
I’m not one of the lucky ones who can do it in 15 mins.
If I do short sessions, it doesn’t help me.
Are these things normal?”
Distraction and relaxation are both common for beginner meditators to have questions about.
When starting to meditate your mind is given time and space to think.
This may be the first time in a long time that your mind has had the opportunity to do this.
If this rarely happened before you started meditating there are many thoughts that your mind has and needs to process.
This feels like being distracted when it is actually how your mind works.
Meditation is about working together with your mind rather than against it.
Allow your thoughts to flow when you meditate.
All your thoughts, both the unimportant and important thoughts.
Your mind will keep coming back to the important thoughts automatically.
Over time you will learn with clarity which thoughts are unimportant and which thoughts are important.
Taking an hour just to relax is a sign that your daily life is too busy.
Try simplifying your daily life where possible and creating time for relaxing activities such as walking, exercise or yoga.
Edwin Leo 